A/N: Well, here is the second installment of Fate Decides! Enjoy, everyone. Don't forget to leave a review before you leave. We're open to anything and everything, but please do not flame. As we all know, it is rude, and constructive criticism is much more appreciated because we will even thank you for that.

"Chapter 2~A Life-Altering Proposal"

The early morning cold stung my skin as I walked to Potions class, carrying my heavy books in my hands. I had forgotten my book bags again, how forgetful of me. I turned round the corner and into the room, and I saw Hermione sitting there in an empty table, and as usual, reading her books. I was quite early, and nobody except Hermione and I were there. What a coincidence.

I plopped my books down and sat beside her, chuckling cockily for no reason. My cocky demeanor surfaced even more as I opened my mouth to ridicule her. "Don't even try, Malfoy," she said without batting an eyelash, as she turned a page in her book.

"What?" I asked, acting as if nothing happened. "I was just trying to say something that would get your attention. And I guess I can't because you already beat me to it." I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes. She didn't respond, but continued on reading as if she didn't hear a word from me. "Goodness, mudblood, can't take a simple..." My voice trailed off, and I turned to face the doorway. The great Harry Potter and his wonderful sidekick were coming. Great. They sat down in front of Hermione, as they always did.

I stood up and sat behind Hermione. Pansy came,  and sat down beside me as well. "Hello, Draco," she greeted me with a wide smile, which, for some reason, made me feel uneasy. "Snape's unusually late today," she said, laying her bags down by her feet.

"Well," I said, raising an eyebrow. "Whatever he is, he better come in, or I'm getting out. It's not very entertaining just sitting down and doing nothing but stare at the mudblood's hair all day." Pansy smirked casually. "Yes, especially if it's dry and brittle. She obviously does not know her hair care," she said. I didn't smile back, which was surprising. Why didn't I? Even I didn't know.

"I heard that, Pansy," Hermione snapped, not even bothering to look at us. Finally, Snape came in, panting slightly. "Well, we're going to try to come up with a new potion today," he said. "I apologize for being late. There was a matter I had to discuss with the other teachers regarding the upcoming Graduation Ball." The words Graduation Ball lit the other students' eyes up upon hearing them. Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil snickered and asked each other who their dates were. Seamus Finnigan, Neville Longbottom and Dean Thomas were coming up with ways to get girls to come with them. Soon the room was filled with deafening noise.

"I will have no more of this commotion!" Snape shouted, enraged.  Hermione raised her hand. "Professor, shouldn't we be starting on truth po--"

"Anymore words, Granger and I will make sure Gryffindor doesn't get the House Cup. Thirty points off Gryffindor." Snape interrupted, making Hermione blush in embarrassment. I watched her get humiliated, and Pansy laughed heartily. "Enough on those Graduation Ball discussions; we'll start now on our groupings."

"Potter, Weasley - you two little gits go to that table and research on common potion ingredients and their uses, functions, locations, and what potions they're used for," he snapped, poting to a rickety table in the back of the room. Harry and Ron scuttled over there, muttering curses to themselves.

"Parkinson, Longbottom - you two go over there. Look for all the rare potions and list down their uses. Finnigan, Thomas - over there, on that table. Write down the fifteen hardest potions to make and tell me their ingredients." He continued on picking pairs at random and giving them their assignments until I was the only one left without a partner. "Everybody - your research about everything is DUE TODAY - make it quick!"

"Professor," I said, raising my hand. "I don't have a partner to work with."

"Well, let's see-" He said as he scanned his class list. "Granger!" he shouted. Oh no. She was going to be my partner! She ran over to us carrying her quill in one hand and a Potions book in the other. "You'll be paired with Draco. No complaints. Any complaint will score you fifty points from your beloved house - fifty points each." Hermione remained silent, and just rolled her eyes.

"Now go on and pick a topic to research about, Draco," Snape said. "I'll leave you two alone - I expect there won't be any problems?" He said. "No, sir," I said.

I stood there dumfounded, and at a loss for words. This was very much unexpected - and she just stood there with the same calm expression on her face, as if she didn't care that I was her partner. "Let's just get it over and done with, Malfoy," she urged, and put her books down on the table. "Well?" she asked. "Potions isn't all day. We have little time."

"Wait a minute, mudblood," I said. "Why are you acting like you don't care about what's going on? Just earlier you didn't even defend yourself like you used to. What's your problem?" I snapped. "Nothing, Malfoy. It's called mood swings, if you didn't know." Hermione retorted a-matter-of-factly. "Well, I'm going to begin researching. I don't know about you, but I'm getting to work."

"Fine, I'll work, if that's what you want, Queen of Mood Swings." I grabbed a quill from my breast pocket and got my books. Time passed and all the researching was over, and we had to pass our findings to Snape. "Thanks for talking to me, I appreciate it so much," I said sarcastically to Granger as we went out the room. She rolled her eyes and made a face at me. "I hate you, Malfoy. Damn you," she said frankly. She went over to Potty and the Weasel with a smile, and they walked off towards the dormitories.

Pansy came to me soon after, placing her arm over my shoulder. "I saw how sweet you two were," she teased. "If that's what you want, Queen of Mood Swings," she mocked me in a deep man-like voice, annoying me in the process. "Ha! If I know, you like her!" she laughed triumphantly.

"You think so? Well, for your information, Pansy, I do not - I never did, never will. Shut up," I said, annoyed.

"Well...I've got a proposal to make." She said slyly. "It's actually a bet. Want to do it?"

"Fine," I said. "What is it?"

"Find a way to make her your date to the Graduation Ball. Make her fall for you real hard. Easy as that. I'm sure you can pull it off."

"What will I gain in doing that?"

"Well, you get to humiliate her later on, when she finds out she was bet on. Duh, Draco. It's all common sense. And the cool part is there's no money involved. Just sheer pleasure in seeing her devastated."

"Deal," I said, laughing. "It's going to be sweet watching how she reacts when I'd tell her the truth."

"Well, that's done. See you later, then, Draco, you lover boy." She walked off laughing. I shook my head. She said it was going to be easy. Knowing Granger, I don't think so.

end of CHAPTER TWO - "A Life-Altering Proposal"